Michael Fabricant MP vows to continue Lichfield Trent Valley battle

EXCLUSIVE: Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has vowed to continue his fight for the modernisation of Lichfield Trent Valley railway station.

Michael Fabricant MP at Lichfield Trent Valley railway station

Following his failure to get called by the Speaker about the poor state of Lichfield Trent Valley railway station during Transport Questions in the Commons, Mr Fabricant tabled a written Parliamentary Question about the lack of facilities there for disabled people and those with young children and heavy luggage.

He received this answer from Paul Clark MP, the Minister at the Department of Transport:

“There are currently no plans to carry out work at Lichfield Trent Valley under the Access for All or National Stations Improvement Programmes. However, London Midland are exploring options with the local authority to redevelop the whole site to improve station facilities, provide additional car parking and if possible, provide step free access to all platforms.

Passengers in one of the few basic shelters at Lichfield Trent Valley

“If such a project can be developed, we would welcome an application for partial funding from the Access for All Small Schemes fund. An accessible ticket machine has recently been installed and improvements to the toilet and waiting facilities are due in the summer. Information points, customer information screens and a public address system are also planned.”

But Mr Fabricant has vowed this won’t be the end of the matter. He said:

“This is more or less the same answer I got years ago from another minister in that same position. Must be the same civil servants. I am now awaiting replies from Staffordshire County Council and the London Midland train company who operate the station. Watch this space… I plan to bang some heads together.”

We ought to issue a call to any disabled Lichfield folk who have been affected by the lack of facilities at the station and start a campaign. Any takers?

gareth thomas

20th March, 2009 at 7:50 pm

Michael I support 100% on your view to get these train stations modern. You work very very hard for our community like all MPs do and I really do appreciate everything you do for us. Its only by your hard work that our Lichfield society improves. David Smith Our Council leader also works relentlessly to ensure that we get the best deal we canfor … Read more government. And I say this works well. Through the both of you Lichfield continues to go from strength to strength. BUT! the reality is its not those trips to London each week that people need an improvement on, the majority of people need better transport links, better local transport links so that we can travel in a better, efficient, greener way around our green and beautiful district. That our elderly can get form a to b locally better and safer. Yes Getting to London is good but not very important to our people. I want to see money spent locally on better bus services, better roads, better taxi services, better and safer local transport !